Golf ball position mark assembly

ABSTRACT

A golf ball position mark assembly has a cylindrical body having a permanent magnet and a mark disk having a projection. The height of the side wall of the body is longer than the thickness of the mark disk and shorter than the height of the projection.

finite t Suzuki States Patent 1 1 1 Dec. 2, 1975 1 GOLF BALL POSITION MARK ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: Shigeo Suzuki, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: TDK Electronic Company, Tokyo,

Japan 221 Filed: June 25.1973

[21] Appl. No.: 373,191

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 26, 1975 Japan 47-000247 [52] US. Cl. 224/5 C; 24/201 B [51] Int. Cl. A45F 5/02 158] Field of Search 224/5 C; 24/201 B, 73 MS, 24/3 F, 3 R; 248/206 A {56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,644,212 7/1953 Markowitz 24/201 B Bey 24/201 B Walbeck 224/26 R x Primary ExaminerRobert J. Spar Assistant ExaminerJerold M. Forsberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Oblon, Fisher, Spivak, McClelland & Maier [57] ABSTRACT A golf ball position mark assembly has a cylindrical body having a permanent magnet and a mark disk having a projection. The height of the side wall of the body is longer than the thickness of the mark disk and shorter than the height of the projection.

2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures GOLF BALL POSITION MARK ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention:

This invention relates in general to a mark for showing the position of a golf ball and more particularly, to a golf ball position mark assembly having a mark holder and a mark device for showing the position of a golf ball.

2. Description of the Prior Art:

It has been known, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to use a mark device for showing the position of a golf ball. In FIGS. 1 and 2 the reference numeral 1 designates a semi-spherical body made of a synthetic resin which has a safety pin 2 mounted on the back side thereof. A disc permanent magnet 3 is fitted with circular arc shape side walls 4 and 5 at the top of the semi-spherical body 1. The reference numeral 6 designates a magnetic metal mark plate such as an iron plate. When the mark device is purchased the mark plate 6 is joined to the permanent magnet 3 of the semi-spherical body 1 which may be attached to ones clothing and the like with the safety pin. When the position of the golf ball is to be marked, the mark plate is taken out of the semispherical body 1 and is placed at the position where the golf ball has been present, so as to show the position. The side walls 4 and 5 are formed for preventing loss of the mark plate.

While somewhat satisfactory the conventional mark device assembly has certain disadvantages in that the mark plate is easily fluttered by wind, when the mark plate is placed at the position of the golf ball on a green top. In addition the mark plate can only be removed from the side walls 4 and 5 by inserting a nail or the like between the mark plate 6 and the permanent magnet 3. Such a procedure makes use inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved unique golf ball position mark assembly which overcomes all of the abovementioned disadvantages.

Briefly, in accordance with this invention, the foregoing and other objects are attained by the provision of a golf ball position mark assembly which includes a metal disk having a projection on the front surface thereof and a shaped body preferably cylindrical. A permanent magnet is molded at the inner bottom of the body so as to join the metal disk to the permanent magnet. A side wall of the shaped body has a height which is greater than the thickness of the metal disk and lower than the projection of the metal disk. Additionally, means for holding the shaped body to a golf player are provided.

The cylindrical shaped body is preferably made of a synthetic resin and the projection is preferably made of a synthetic resin and has a conical shape. The holding means has at least one hole for passing a thread and is formed on the shaped body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The forgoing and other features of this invention will become more readily appreciated by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the disclosure.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are respectively front and back schematic views of a conventional golf ball position mark assembly.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of one preferred embodiment of a golf ball position mark assembly according to this invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another alternative and preferred embodiment of the shaped body having a holding means.

FIG. 6 is a front view of still another alternative and preferred embodiment of a golf ball position mark assembly according to this invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, especially FIGS. 3 and 4, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and the reference numeral 7 designates a cylindrical body preferably made of a synthetic resin and a permanent magnet 8 which is molded at the inner bottom of the cylindrical body. Obviously, the body 7 may be of shapes other than cylindrical. The reference numeral 9 designates a magnetic metal disk made of iron or the like and a projection 10, such as of a conical shape, made preferably of a synthetic resin is connected preferably at the center of the disk. The reference numeral 11 designates a holding means having a hole 12 through which a thread such as of the shoes can be passed, so as to conveniently carry the assembly to a green top.

The holding means can be various types. Thus, a groove 13 can be formed on the holding means to reach the hole 12, thereby making it possible to pass a ring shape thread through the groove to the holding means, so that it is easy to use. When the mark plate metal disk 9 is not being used the same is held on the body 7 and is adhered to the permanent magnet 8. The thickness cl of the disk 9 is smaller than the height I of the side wall 14, and is preferably in a range of b2d-3d. The height of the projection 10 is larger than the height of the side wall 14. The permanent magnet 8 is preferably of the multi-polar type, and thereby has a great attractive force.

The golf ball position mark assembly of this invention can be readily carried by attaching it to a thread (shoe string) of a shoe, a belt, or the like. When the mark disk 9 is used for designating the position of the golf ball, the disk having the projection is taken out of the body having the permanent magnet 8 and the projection 10 is stuck into the ground of the green top to fix the mark disk.

It should be understood that with the present invention, since the height of the side wall is higher than the thickness of the disk, the mark disk is prevented from being easily detached from the permanent magnet while it is carried in the assembly. Moreover, with the present invention, since the projection is higher than the side wall, the mark disk can be easily separated from the permanent magnet by inclining the projection by ones finger or the like. In addition, since the projection is made of a synthetic resin, there is no danger of injury to the skin of the user, yet the projection can be easily placed into the ground.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, the holding means 11 can be formed at the back surface of the cylindrical body 7. It is also preferable to form the holding means 11 at the back surface of the cylindrical body 7 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein the grooves 15 and 16 can be formed on the surface of the holding means 11, so that a thread for holding the body can be passed therethrough.

It should now be apparant that in accordance with this invention, a golf ball position marker has a projection so that the mark disk can be easily fixed on the ground by sticking the projection therein and it can also be easily separated from the body by inclining the projection. Accordingly, it is quite convenient to use the marker of the present invention in golf play.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood, that within the scope of the teachings herein and the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A golf ball position marker assembly comprising:

a golf ball position marker comprising a metallic disc with a synthetic resin pointed rod for insertion into the ground projecting from the center of the disc,

a golf ball position marker holder comprising:

a synthetic resin hollow cylinder having its top end open and its bottom end at least partially closed, the bottom end being perpendicular to the side walls of the cylinder,

a permanent magnet positioned to lie within the cylinder and flush against the bottom end of the cylinder,

the golf ball position marker being positioned to lie within the cylinder and flush against the permanent magnet to which it is attracted,

the side walls of the cylinder having a height greater than the combined thicknesses of the permanent magnet and the metallic disc but less than the height of the synthetic resin pointed rod for insertion into the ground projecting from the center of the disc,

U-shaped non-movable holding means integrally mounted to the cylinder to form an opening between the cylinder and the U-shaped holding means to permit passage of a shoe string therethrough to permit attachment of the golf ball position marker assembly to a shoe to permit convenient carrying of the golf ball position marker assembly,

the holding means being rectangular shaped and formed at the bottom end of the cylinder and having a groove therein, the bottom portion of the cylinder having a similar groove therein disposed opposite thereto, the oppositely disposed grooves retaining a shoe string passed therethrough.

2. A golf ball position marker assembly comprising:

a golf ball position marker comprising a metallic disc with a synthetic resin pointed rod for insertion into the ground projecting from the center of the disc,

a golf ball position marker holder comprising:

a synthetic resin hollow cylinder having its top end open and its bottom end at least partially closed, the bottom end being perpendicular to the side walls of the cylinder,

a permanent magnet positioned to lie within the cylinder and flush against the bottom end of the cylinder,

the golf ball position marker being positioned to lie within the cylinder and flush against the permanent magnet to which it is attracted,

the side walls of the cylinder having a height greater than the combined thicknesses of the permanent magnet and the metallic disc but less than the height of the synthetic resin pointed rod for insertion into the ground projecting from the center of the disc,

U-shaped nonmovable holding means integrally mounted to the cylinder to form an opening between the cylinder and the U-shaped holding means to permit passage of a shoe string therethrough to permit attachment of the golf ball position marker assembly to a shoe to permit convenient carrying of the golf ball position marker assembly,

the U-shaped holding means having a narrow opening therein to permit passage of a shoe string therethrough without the necessity of passing an end of the shoe string through the opening between the U-shaped holding means and the cylinder, the narrow opening being inclined at an angle of substantially less than to the U-shaped holding means to restrict inadvertent passage of the shoe string through the narrow opening.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (IERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,923,215 DATED December 2, 1975 INVENTOR(S) Shigeo Suzuki it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Change Priority Date from "December 26, 1975" to --December 26, l972--.

Signed and Scaled thisthirtieth Day of March 1976 [SEAL] A ttes t:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (mnmisximwr ofPaIenls and Trademarks UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF (IQRRECTION PATENT NO. 3,923,215 DATED December 2, 1975 INVENTOR S Shigeo Suzuki it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Change Priority Date from "December 26, 1975" to --December 26, 1972-- Signed and Scaled this thirtieth D ay of March 1 9 76 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner oj'ParenIs and Trademarks 

1. A golf ball position marker assembly comprising: a golf ball position marker comprising a metallic disc with a synthetic resin pointed rod for insertion into the ground projecting from the center of the disc, a golf ball position marker holder comprising: a synthetic resin hollow cylinder having its top end open and its bottom end at least partially closed, the bottom end being perpendicular to the side walls of the cylinder, a permanent magnet positioned to lie within the cylinder and flush against the bottom end of the cylinder, the golf ball position marker being positioned to lie within the cylinder and flush against the permanent magnet to which it is attracted, the side walls of the cylinder having a height greater than the combined thicknesses of the permanent magnet and the metallic disc but less than the height of the synthetic resin pointed rod for insertion into the ground projecting from the center of the disc, U-shaped non-movable holding means integrally mounted to the cylinder to form an opening between the cylinder and the Ushaped holding means to permit passage of a shoe string therethrough to permit attachment of the golf ball position marker assembly to a shoe to permit convenient carrying of the golf ball position marker assembly, the holding means being rectangular shaped and formed at the bottom end of the cylinder and having a groove therein, the bottom portion of the cylinder having a similar groove therein disposed opposite thereto, the oppositely disposed grooves retaining a shoe string passed therethrough.
 2. A golf ball position marker assembly comprising: a golf ball position marker comprising a metallic disc with a synthetic resin pointed rod for insertion into the ground projecting from the center of the disc, a golf ball position marker holder comprising: a synthetic resin hollow cylinder having its top end open and its bottom end at least partially closed, the bottom end being perpendicular to the side walls of the cylinder, a permanent magnet positioned to lie within the cylinder and flush against the bottom end of the cylinder, the golf ball position marker being positioned to lie within the cylinder and flush against the permanent magnet to which it is attracted, the side walls of the cylinder having a height greater than the combined thicknesses of the permanent magnet and the metallic disc but less than the height of the synthetic resin pointed rod for insertion into the ground projecting from the center of the disc, U-shaped nonmovable holding means integrally mounted to the cylinder to form an opening between the cylinder and the U-shaped holding means to permit passage of a shoe string therethrough to permit attachment of the golf ball position marker assembly to a shoe to permit convenient carrying of the golf ball position marker assembly, the U-shaped holding means having a narrow opening therein to permit passage of a shoe string therethrough without the necessity of passing an end of the shoe string through the opening between the U-shaped holding means and the cylinder, the narrow opening being inclined at an angle of substantially less than 90* to the U-shaped holding means to restrict inadvertent passage of the shoe string through the narrow opening. 